All it Takes is a Night CHAPTER 1

"You know, I can hear you two snickering out there. What do you want?" I shout, hearing Sonic and Silver whisper and laugh.

God, living with these two was a bad choice.

But I got kicked out of my old place. The landlord got tired of me after I lost my job… a bunch of promises of "I'll pay later" that I couldn't keep.

What else was I supposed to do? I have no family.

All of the sudden the door bursts open and the two come flying in my room, leaping on my bed. Sonic lies next to me and gets in my face, "hey Shadoooow, wanna go out on an adventure?"

"Fuck no." I push the blue hedgehog away from me and kick the silver one off from jumping on my bed.

"C'mon Shadow you need to come out of this room sometime! You're like, major loner boy…" Silver looks up at me from the floor.

"I like it in here. I'm comfortable. I'm alone." I huff at them.

"But but… don't you wanna see naked women?" Sonic sits up and tilts his head at me.

"No, I do not."

"Oh, I forgot, that's what your computer is for, huh?"

"Fuck off."

"Just come Shad, I know you'll like it! Just let us treat you to a fun night!" Silver throws his arms in the air, obviously getting irritated with me.

"What made you guys decide to do this all the sudden?" I raise an eyebrow at the two.

"Because… we're tired of your loner-ness."

"I swear, just get out!"

So, after what seemed like forever arguing with the two, I finally just gave up. They just would not leave me alone.

"Alright, we're here!" Silver opens the door and nods for us to go inside.

Sonic grabs my arm and pulls me inside. I immediately want to leave.

There's girls showing themselves off everywhere, and disgusting men throwing money at them and shouting, some trying to grab the girls in places…

Once Silver catches up to us, Sonic leads us to one of the dancers. "Feast your eyes on the boobs!"

I look up to see a white bat with long hair and violet wings, wearing nothing but some lace. I immediately look away, shaking my head. These two are such perverts.

"Guys this is retarded." I look back at them, realizing they can't even hear me. They're too engrossed in the women.

I glance back up, noticing the bat had left the stage. A few guys bump into me, and I push them away, getting many glares.

I sigh, turning to start walking out. This is much too uncomfortable.

I tug on my jacket as I step outside, watching my breath in the air. It's pretty cold tonight.

Suddenly I hear a scream, and not a second later its hushed. I tilt my ear towards the sound, but I don't hear anything else. Maybe it was nothing.

I start slowly stepping towards where I heard it. No one else is out here, so if it was something I'd be the only one available to stop it. Why do I even care?

Just wait until the two idiots come back and we'll leave. This drama is not my problem.

I hear another cry, again hushed. I look around the corner, into the alley. There's a door cracked open, and I see a little star on it. I assume that's where the girls go, maybe some sort of dressing room?

One more cry. I tell myself. One more and I'll look.

Aaand there's another cry. This time it sounded more muffled. Like someone's forcing the girl quiet.

I quickly step towards the door with wide strides. I swing the door open abruptly.

The bat from earlier was propped up on the make-up dresser, a man is in front of her with his hand over her mouth.

She looks at me with wide, scared eyes.

The man is raping her.

"What the hell are you doing!" I yell, ripping the guy away from her. He quickly yanks his pants up and punches me in the face. Bat-girl screeches, and tries to pry my hands from this dude's shirt. I have him pinned against the wall.

"You can't just… violate a woman like that!" I growl, baring my teeth.

"What are you talking about? She's my girlfriend! Last I checked, I was allowed to have sex with her. She screamed because she was enjoying it!" He barks, looking between me and the bat.

"Didn't sound like she enjoyed it to me." I drop him, kicking him in the place no man likes being kicked.

"Fuck," he coughs.

I look back at the bat. "What's going on?"

She steps back, looking terrified and covering her mouth. "He… he's not… Just please don't—" She quickly glances down at him and back up at me.

I look, seeing him reach for his pocket.

"GET OUT OF HERE!" she screams.

I instinctively kick, hitting his arm just as he shoots. He hits the ceiling, and a small chandelier falls, impacting the middle of the room. At this point there are multiple girls in here, two husky security guards rush in, yelling and pointing and moving the girls away.

"Come on," I grab her wrist and run, outside, past the front door, and down the street.

"Will you slow down? I have heels on!" She shouts behind me.

I skid to a stop and she bumps into my back. "Thank you… for that…" She nods back towards the place we came.

"Yeah don't mention it." I shake my head, sigh, run my hand over my quills. "You should probably get out of here."

"Yeah, about that—"

"Shadow! Shadow!" I hear the blue hedgehog's voice. I turn my head.

"What?" I hiss.

"I heard a gunshot and screams and all of the sudden you disappeared, and—" he takes a breath. "Who is this?" he gestures at bat-girl.

I shrug and glance at her. She's wiping stray tears from her face.

"Hello?" Silver pokes her cheek.

"Silver!" I smack his hand down, narrowing my eyes at him.

The bat lets out a breath. "Rouge."

"What?" Sonic cocks his head.

"Rouge. My name. It's Rouge."

"Oh nice—"

"Hey, bitch!"

It's him.

"Run!" Silver yells, grabbing Rouge's arm and yanking her with him.

I stay put, letting them run. The dark red hedgehog from before speed-walks towards me, fists at his sides. "What'd you do with my girl?"

"You're girl? Please." A smile creeps on my muzzle. "Shouldn't she be enjoying your sex, then?"

He makes a loud grunting noise, and shoves his fist into my stomach. I swing my opposite fist into his jaw, and jab him in the crotch with my knee. "I don't want to fucking fight you."

He laughs, an odd laugh… As if he were insane. "I see," a chuckle. "You just want her."

"Huh?" I breathe.

"C'mon, don't you wanna just sit her on the counter, rip off the little bit of cloth she's wearing, and get into her? I mean, she's really great, she feels so—"

"Don't worry man. After tonight I'm pretty sure I won't be seeing her again. But, I'm pretty sure you won't, either."

"Hmm?" He cocks an eyebrow.

I gesture at the police car that's pulling up.

His eyes widen with fear, the blue white and red lights reflecting in them. He tries to run, but is tackled by an officer.

I pivot on one foot and dash away.

…

"Why'd you bring her here?" I slam my fist on the wooden table next to our small kitchen.

"Where else was she supposed to go?" Silver steps in front of Rouge defensively.

"Home?" I protest.

The bat stands from the couch. "Don't worry… I'll just go now. I have an old friend I can—"

"No!" Sonic grabs her arm. "You're fine to stay here!"

"If she has a friend to go to, then why are you guys even protesting? I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to stay with three random guys."

"Why not?"

"God," I shake my head, rubbing my temples.

"Don't worry guys, I'll go." Rouge pulls her arm away from Sonic, and pushes past me to get to the door.

She nods. "Thank you for everything."

I stand there silent, leaning on the table. I wait to hear the door open and shut.

"Wait," Silver jumps up. "who is this friend of yours?"

"Don't worry about it." Rouge snaps, then lowers her ears. "sorry… I just… I'm going to go.

See you around."

She steps outside and closes the door.

"Dammit Shadow, why you gotta be such an ass?" Sonic heads to his room, and soon Silver follows in suit.

I groan, pull out one of our crappy chairs and rest my head in my hands.

Never going to a strip club again. Never getting involved with strangers again.

I hear her outside the door, probably on the phone.

"I know its random— I know— but I have nowhere to— I promise I won't bother you, I'll just crash and leave first thing in the morning— I won't fucking take your alcohol!— god, you're insane— fine, I'll find a hotel— I have some money from work tonight— stop calling me a whore!— Ugh, bye, just fuck off."

Slam

Slide

I step out the door. She's sitting against the wall with her head buried in her legs.

"Some friend huh?" I shove my hands in my pockets and step towards her.

She looks up at me with her tear-stained face. "Well, she used to be a friend… She's kind of become an alcoholic and…"

I grab her by the arm and pull her to her feet. "You get one night. Figure out what you're going to do tomorrow."

The bat looks to the side, the ceiling, the floor, avoiding my face. Ashamed. "I'm… Sorry…"

"Stop crying, just come on."

She nods just slightly, and follows me inside. I see Silver on the couch, watching our small TV. He looks up at me, "is she staying?"

"Tonight only. And no, she's not sleeping in your room."

His ears go flat, and he stares at my hand. The one holding Rouge's arm.

I drop her arm. "I don't trust you. I don't trust Sonic either."

"Why? You were at the strip club too!"

"Because you guys made me." I growl. "She'll stay on the couch."

"But it's so uncomfortable! She deserves a bed."

"She'll be fine."

"I'm sorry to disturb you guys, but do you have… an extra shirt, or something?" She gestures towards the highly-revealing lace she's wearing.

I sigh, take her to my room.

I throw her one of my old black t-shirts. "Here."

"Thank you. Don't look."

"Why it's just a—" and she took the top off, revealing her breasts. "Oh, shit, oh my god sorry." I turn quickly. I didn't know she had to take her underwear off…

"I told you not to look." She sighs. "I'm good now."

"So… Who was that guy? At the club?"

Rouge stares at the floor, her ears down. "He was… my ex."

She explains how she used to date this guy. He got too controlling so she tried to leave, but he got abusive, threatened to kill her if she tried to leave again. She had been abused, physically, mentally, and what I had seen back at the club was not the worst of the sexual abuse. I honestly feel a little bad for her.

"I'm sorry for getting all into things but… I've never really been able to talk to anyone about it."

"Its… alright." I pat her shoulder.

What? I've never been a hugger.

"Let's get you to bed."

We head to the living room, and of course, Silver has fallen asleep on the couch.

"God damn." I pick up a pillow to throw at him, but Rouge grabs my arm.

"Let him sleep. I'll lay on the floor."

"No…" I fling the pillow, but she flies up to catch it. "Why do you care?"

"I'm not going to just come in here and wake this guy up and kick him off his own couch."

"Damn. Rouge," I run my hand over my quill, and regret what I'm about to say. "Just… come sleep in my bed."

"You sure?"

I nod, and pull her to my room. I take one of the pillows and throw it on the recliner in the corner. "Night," I say, maybe too quietly.

"Hey I don't want to kick you out of your bed—"

"It's just one night." I take my shirt off and throw it on the floor. She just shakes her head, and watches me. "What?" I say, and walk over to her. I push her by the forehead so she falls back into my bed. "Sleep."

"Heh… fine." She smirks, and covers herself in my blankets.

I lay in the chair, and it takes me awhile to really get tired.

A lot has happened tonight. I have a stripper sleeping in my bed.

Never again.